Ground Anchor for Artificial Surface and Method

ABSTRACT

An assembly of a ground anchor embedded within an artificial surface playing field is disclosed. The field has an artificial surface layer extending in a taut, level and smooth manner over an uppermost subsurface layer. A ground anchor body is embedded in the uppermost subsurface layer such that an upper wall of the ground anchor body engages an underside of the artificial surface layer. The upper wall of the ground anchor is fastened to the underside of the artificial surface layer with mechanical fasteners, an adhesive, or the like. An anchor member is connected to the ground anchor body and is extendable to a position in which the anchor member extends from the ground anchor body through a slit in the artificial surface layer to a position above the artificial surface layer so that it can be connected to an object to be anchored to the artificial surface layer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a ground anchor for use in anchoring sports goals, benches, and like equipment to an underlying ground surface such as a playing field, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a ground anchor for use on a playing field or the like having an artificial surface.

Various structures, such as goals for sports, benches, and the like are preferably anchored to the underlying ground surface for safety and security as well as other reasons. By way of example, a full-size soccer goal may weigh between about 150 to 500 lbs. and may have a frame that defines a goal mouth eight feet in height and twenty-four feet in width. Thus, a problem with such a goal, particularly a free-standing goal that is not otherwise permanently affixed to the underlying ground surface, is that the goal can tip over for any of a variety of reasons. For instance, high winds can tip over a goal, a person hanging on a crossbar can cause a goal to tip, and lifting up the rear of the goal can cause tip over. Tip over of goals can lead to injuries such as those caused by blunt force trauma to the body where a part of a falling goal frame impacts on a person's body. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) has set industry standards required by goals, for instance, see ASTM F2056 “Standard Safety and Performance Specification for Soccer Goals”.

Ground anchors have been used to anchor otherwise free-standing soccer goals and like equipment to the underlying surface of the playing field to aid in the prevention of goals and the like from accidentally tilting over and causing injury to players or other persons located nearby. Typically, such systems utilize threaded bolts, nuts, or like fasteners secured to permanently installed footings to tie down a goal frame to a playing surface. The footings are generally elongate, vertically-disposed anchors penetrating deep into the subsurface of natural ground and may or may not be embedded within concrete or like permanent structure.

Examples of ground anchors designed specifically for anchoring sport goals, such as soccer goals, are provided by U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2009/0007502 A1 of Roy et al., 2008/0006756 A1 of Mitchell et al. and 2007/0144081 A1 of Caruso. Other examples of tie-downs, ground anchors, tethering stakes and the like are disclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,438,243 B1 issued to Erickson, 6,758,456 B2 issued to Krieger, 6,412,235 B1 issued to Pylant, 5,040,924 issued to Kothman, 4,060,244 issued to Graham, 3,494,587 issued to Kuhn, 2,713,327 issued to West, 2,706,967 issued to Iannetti, 2,660,276 issued to McKee, and 566,196 issued to Lewis.

Although the above referenced ground anchors, sport goals, and methods of anchoring disclosed in the above referenced patents and application publications may be satisfactory for their intended purpose, there is a need for a ground anchor for use on a playing field having an artificial playing surface such as artificial turf. The ground anchor should not restrict activities on the playing field when the ground anchor is not in use, and the ground anchor should enable the attachment and removal of various articles, such as sport goals, benches and the like, to and from the ground anchor in a manner requiring a minimum of time, effort, skill and labor. In addition, the ground anchor should be capable of being installed during or after installation of the artificial surface or turf.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an assembly of a ground anchor embedded within an artificial surface playing field. The field has an artificial surface layer extending in a taut, level and smooth manner over an uppermost subsurface layer. A ground anchor body is embedded in the uppermost subsurface layer such that an upper wall of the ground anchor body engages an underside of the artificial surface layer. The upper wall of the ground anchor is fastened to the underside of the artificial surface layer with mechanical fasteners, an adhesive, or the like. An anchor member is connected to the ground anchor body and is extendable to a position in which the anchor member extends from the ground anchor body through a slit in the artificial surface layer to a position above the artificial surface layer so that it can be connected to an object to be anchored to the artificial surface layer.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a ground anchor is provided comprising a substantially flat and shallow ground anchor body having a laterally-extending upper wall. An anchor member is connected to the ground anchor body and is moveable between a stowed position and an anchoring position. In the stowed position, the anchor member is located below the upper wall and, in the anchoring position, a part of the anchor member is extendable to a position above the ground anchor body for being connected to an object to be anchored.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, a method of installing a ground anchor on a playing field is provided. A ground anchor body is embedded within an uppermost subsurface layer of the playing field directly beneath an artificial surface layer of the playing field. The ground anchor has an extendable anchor member that is positioned entirely below the artificial surface layer when not in use and that, during use, is extendable to a position above the artificial surface layer for being connected to an object to be anchored. After the embedding step, the artificial surface layer is fastened to an upper wall of the ground anchor body with mechanical fasteners or an adhesive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention should become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a part of a sports goal anchored to a first embodiment of a ground anchor according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the ground anchor shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of the ground anchor of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a lengthwise cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the ground anchor installed under an artificial surface of a playing field;

FIG. 5 is a widthwise cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the ground anchor installed under the artificial surface of the playing field;

FIG. 6 is a lengthwise cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a ground anchor according to the present invention as installed under an artificial surface of a playing field; and

FIG. 7 is a lengthwise cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of a ground anchor according to the present invention as installed under an artificial surface of a playing field.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a ground anchor 10 that can be used to secure or tie down a free-standing goal 12 or the like to an underlying playing field 14 or other surface. The purpose of the ground anchor 10 is to prevent, limit, or restrict movement of the goal 12 relative to the underlying playing field 14, including preventing the goal 12 from tipping over so as to avoid injuries that may result from a falling goal frame 16.

As best illustrated in FIG. 1, a sports goal 12 can be a soccer goal having a frame 16 of a relatively-large size and of a relatively-large weight. The frame 16 may be made of aluminum or other sturdy material and the total weight of the goal 12 may be about 260 lbs. or more. While FIG. 1 shows the ground anchor 10 connected to the soccer goal 12, it should be understood that the ground anchor 10 can be used to secure any type of sports goal, equipment, apparatus or like object to the underlying ground surface 14. For instance, a bench or any other structure or object may be required to be secured to the underlying ground surface 14 to prevent the structure from being moved or removed or from falling over.

In addition, the presence of the ground anchor 10 should not restrict use of the playing field 14 or like surface, for instance, when the ground anchor 10 is not needed. This is primarily because, at many institutions, schools, and the like, one or more indoor or outdoor playing fields 14 or like surfaces is often used for multiple sports and/or other activities, whether in the same or different sports seasons. Thus, it is often desirable that for sports utilizing goals and like equipment, the goals and other equipment be transportable so that they can be moved easily and often. For instance, soccer goals may be required to be moved from one position to another for use on the playing field or may be required to be moved between the playing field and a storage location so that the field can be used for another purpose. Accordingly, it is important that the ground anchor 10 not restrict other activities or other uses of the field 14 when the ground anchor 10 is not being used.

Unlike conventional ground anchors typically used to secure sports goals to a playing field, the ground anchor 10 according to the present invention is substantially flat, shallow and horizontally-disposed and is required to only slightly penetrate into the subsurface 18 of the playing field 14. For example, as best illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the depth “D” of penetration of the ground anchor 10 into the subsurface 18 may be about 1 inch or less than 1 inch. This depth “D” of penetration is in contrast to conventional ground anchors and/or footings which are generally elongate and vertically-disposed relative to the playing field such that they penetrate deep into the subsurface of the playing field. Often, a relatively deep and large hole is dug into the playing field and concrete is poured around the vertically-disposed conventional anchor to permanently secure the anchor within the ground. If the conventional anchor or footing is not provided with sufficient depth (such as a depth of a foot or more), the conventional anchor will only be loosely connected to the ground and will be removable from the ground with only a small amount of force insufficient for reliably anchoring an object such as a soccer goal.

Since the ground anchor 10 of the present invention requires a depth “D” of penetration into the subsurface 18 of less than about 1 inch, it is particularly well-suited and adapted for use with playing fields 14 having an artificial playing surface. An example is an outdoor or indoor playing field 14 having artificial turf or other artificial playing surface instead of natural grass and/or dirt. As best illustrated in FIG. 1, such an artificial surface will include an exposed top layer 20 of artificial turf or the like that is maintained in a taut and smooth condition on an uppermost subsurface layer 22. The artificial turf layer 20 will typically include a continuous polymeric backing layer from which filaments or the like project to provide a grass-like or other texture. Alternatively, the top layer 20 can be made of a sheet-like layer of plastic, rubber, elastomeric or like material. The uppermost subsurface layer 22 is typically a layer of material providing at least some minimal degree of resiliency or shock absorbance and can be a natural or manufactured material. For instance, the uppermost subsurface layer 22 is not typically made of concrete or like unyielding material; rather, it is typically a layer of sand or other particulate material, rubber, elastomeric material, or the like. The uppermost subsurface layer 22 may only be an inch to several inches in thickness and may be supported on a concrete or like lower subsurface layer or layers (not shown).

Turning to the structure of a first contemplated embodiment of the ground anchor of the present invention, the ground anchor body 10 as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 includes a relative thin and shallow case or container 24 housing a flexible or extendable/retractable anchor member 26. The case 24 can be generally rectangular with a base wall 28 and upstanding side walls 30 defining an open top 32 and a shallow compartment 34 in which the anchor member 26 can be housed and stowed (see FIG. 4). The case 24 can be made of plastic, metal, wooden or like material. The anchor member 26 can be in the faun of a flexible cord such as a cord made of braided wire, chain links, or like elements. A fixed end 36 of the cord 26 can be positively secured to the case 24 with a bolt 38 or like fastener and the free end 40 of the cord 26 can include a fastening eyelet 42 or other end connection configuration for use in making a connection with a goal frame 14 or like equipment.

The case 24 and cord 26 can be sized such that, when the ground anchor 10 is not in use, the entire cord 26 can reside within the case 24 below the surface of the field 14 to thereby provide little-to-no restriction with respect to the use of the playing field 14. For example, see FIG. 4.

The case 24 can be integrally formed with, or can be secured to, an upper turf-engaging wall 44. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the wall 44 can be an elongate sheet or board secured to the case 24 with screws 46 or like fasteners. The upper wall 44 can have an opening, slot, cut-away section or the like 48 where it extends over or adjacent at least the free end 40 of the flexible cord 26. This permits the free end 40 of the cord 26 to be pulled through the opening 48 when the ground anchor 10 is needed and permits the entire cord 26 to be replaced within the case 24 when the ground anchor 10 is to be stowed when not in use.

In addition, the upper wall 44 extends outwardly beyond the footprint of the case 24 thereby providing an outward-extending, elongate flange or wing structure. For instance, as best shown in FIG. 3, the upper wall 44 can be provided in the shape of an elongate blade or wing thereby providing a sufficient amount of surface area for contacting, supporting and engaging a layer 20 of artificial turf or the like supported thereon. See FIGS. 4 and 5. By way of example, the width “W” of the upper wall 44 may only be a few inches (such as 3 or 4 inches), while the length “L” of the upper wall 44 may be about two or more feet. The upper wall 44 may be made of a plastic, wooden, metal, fabric or like material.

When the ground anchor 10 is installed within the playing field 14, the case 24 including upper wall 44 is embedded within the uppermost subsurface layer 22 such that the upper wall 44 is flush and level with the top of the uppermost subsurface layer 22. This permits the artificial turf layer 20 to extend over and be supported by the substantially flat surface of the upper wall 44 of the ground anchor 10 in a smooth, taut and level manner as if the ground anchor 10 were not present. See FIGS. 4 and 5. During installation, fasteners 50, such as staples, rivets, or the like are applied to the artificial turf layer 20 to secure the artificial turf surface to the underlying upper wall 44 of the ground anchor 10. See fasteners 50 shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. As an alternative, an adhesive could be used. The fasteners 50 prevent movement or shifting of the ground anchor 10 relative to the artificial turf layer 20 and provides the needed strength to secure the ground anchor 10 to the playing field 14 despite the depth “D” of penetration of the ground anchor being less than about 1 inch.

A method of installing the ground anchor 10 on a preexisting artificial turf playing field 14 includes a step of making a slit 52 in the artificial turf layer of a length not much greater than the width “W” of the case 24. Thereafter, a volume of the uppermost subsurface layer 22 can be removed or spread to offset the space required for the ground anchor body 10. The ground anchor 10 is then threaded through the slit and, when the entire ground anchor is located below the artificial turf layer 20, the ground anchor is repositioned such that the opening 48 in the upper wall 44 is located directly beneath the slit 52. In this position, the slit 52 extends across the width “W” of the upper wall 44 at about the center of the wall 44 and is substantially perpendicular to the length of the elongate wall 44. Thus, in this position, undesired removal of the ground anchor 10 from underneath the artificial turf layer is not easily accomplished. When the ground anchor 10 is level with the top of the uppermost subsurface layer 22, fasteners 50 can be applied through the artificial turf layer 20 and into the upper wall 44 of the ground anchor 10 on both sides of the slit 52. This physically connects and ties together the underside of the artificial turf layer 20 to the upper wall 44 of the ground anchor 10.

As discussed above, when not in use, the flexible cord 26 can be stowed in the case 24 below the surface of the playing field 14 and use of the playing field for any purpose is not prevented by the presence of the ground anchor 10. When a goal 12 or the like is to be connected to the ground anchor 10, the free end 40 of the cord 26 can be accessed via the slit 52 and opening 48 and pulled to a location extending above the surface of the playing field. In this position, the eyelet 42 or other connection element of the cord 26 can be connected to the frame 16 of the goal 12. For instance, the eyelet 42 can be fastened to the frame 12 with a fastener as shown in FIG. 1 or another cord or the like can be threaded through the eyelet 42 and locked about the frame 16 of the goal. Of course, any other mechanism for securing the cord 26 to the frame 16 can be used.

Accordingly, the attachment of the laterally extending elongate flanges of the wall 44 of the ground anchor to the underside of the layer of artificial turf provides an assembly with sufficient strength to tie down a full size soccer goal or equivalent sized and weighted object and is able to prevent tip over of the goal. This can be accomplished with a ground anchor according to the present invention that requires less than 1 inch of depth of penetration of the ground anchor within the subsurface of the playing field and without the need of setting a concrete footing or any other complicated footing or anchor structure. Thus, the ground anchor according to the present invention is easily installed either during or after artificial turf installment and can be removed and relocated when desired. In addition, during use, the ground anchor can be placed in a stowed (retracted) condition or an extended condition (for use) without the use of tools in an easy manner.

FIG. 6 illustrates a second embodiment of a ground anchor 110 according to the present invention. This embodiment does not include a case 24 or the like; however, it is otherwise similar to ground anchor 10. As shown in FIG. 6, the fixed end 136 of the cord 126 is positively secured directly to the upper turf-engaging wall 144 with a fastener 138 or the like. The cord 126 extends on top of and is supported directly on the uppermost subsurface layer 122. The wall 144 includes an opening 148 through which the free end 140 of the cord 126 can be extended. The wall 144 is fastened to the underside of the layer 120 of artificial turf with fasteners 150.

FIG. 7 illustrates a third embodiment of a ground anchor 210 according to the present invention. Ground anchor 210 is substantially the same as the ground anchor 110 except that a flexible pocket 224 houses the cord 226. The fixed end 236 of the cord 226 is positively secured directly to the upper turf-engaging wall 244 with a fastener 238 or the like. The flexible pocket 224, which can be made of vinyl, rubber, or the like is affixed, such as with an adhesive or the like, to the underside of the wall 244 to provide a compartment for the cord 226. The wall 244 includes an opening 248 through which the free end 240 of the cord 226 can be extended. The wall 244 is fastened to the underside of the layer 220 of artificial turf with fasteners 250.

While preferred ground anchor, ground anchor and artificial turf assembly, and method of installation of a ground anchor have been described in detail, various modifications, alterations, and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the assemblies according to the present invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1. An assembly of an artificial surface playing field with embedded ground anchor, comprising: an artificial surface layer of a field extending in a taut, level and smooth manner over an uppermost subsurface layer of the field; a ground anchor body embedded in said uppermost subsurface layer such that an upper wall of said ground anchor body engages an underside of said artificial surface layer; means for positively securing said upper wall of said ground anchor to said underside of said artificial surface layer; and an anchor member connected to said ground anchor body and extendable to a position in which said anchor member extends from said ground anchor body through a slit in said artificial surface layer to a position above said artificial surface layer for being connected to an object to anchor the object to said artificial surface layer.
 2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein a depth of penetration of said ground anchor body into said uppermost subsurface layer is less than 1 inch.
 3. An assembly according claim 1, wherein said anchor member is a flexible cord or chain, wherein one end of said flexible cord or chain is secured to said ground anchor body and wherein an opposite free end of said flexible cord or chain is movable to said position above said artificial surface layer and is removably connectable to the object to be anchored to said artificial surface layer.
 4. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said ground anchor body is a substantially flat, elongate, shallow body and said upper wall of said ground anchor body has a substantially flat upper surface that extends flush and level with an upper surface of said upper most subsurface layer.
 5. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein said upper wall is elongate having a length and a width, with said length being greater than said width.
 6. An assembly according to claim 5, wherein said anchor member has a fixed end secured to said ground anchor body and a free end extendable to said position above said artificial surface layer and to a stowed position below said upper wall, and wherein said upper wall has an opening formed therein permitting passage of said free end of said anchor member therethrough.
 7. An assembly according to claim 6, wherein said slit in said artificial surface layer is located adjacent said opening of said upper wall, and wherein said slit extends perpendicular to said length of said elongate upper wall and is of a length less than said length of said elongate upper wall.
 8. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said ground anchor body defines a hollow compartment for housing said anchor member in a position completely below said artificial surface layer when said anchor member is not in use.
 9. An assembly according to claim 8, wherein said upper wall of said ground anchor body extends laterally beyond said hollow compartment.
 10. An assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a sports goal, wherein said anchor member extending to said position above said artificial surface layer is connected to said sports goal for anchoring said sports goal in a desired position on said artificial surface layer.
 11. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said means for positively securing said upper wall of said ground anchor to said underside of said artificial surface layer is an adhesive or a mechanical fastener.
 12. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said artificial surface layer is a layer of artificial turf.
 13. A ground anchor, comprising: a substantially flat and shallow ground anchor body having a laterally- extending upper wall; and an anchor member connected to said ground anchor body and moveable between a stowed position and an anchoring position, in said stowed position said anchor member being located entirely below said upper wall and in said anchoring position a free end part of said anchor member being extendable to a position above said upper wall for being removably connectable to an object to be anchored.
 14. A ground anchor according to claim 13, further comprising mechanical fasteners for fastening said upper wall of said ground anchor body to an overlying layer of artificial turf.
 15. A ground anchor according to claim 14, wherein said shallow ground anchor body being less than one inch in thickness thereby requiring a depth of penetration into the subsurface of the ground of less than 1 inch.
 16. A ground anchor according claim 15, wherein said anchor member is a flexible cord or chain, wherein one end of said flexible cord or chain is secured to said ground anchor body and wherein an opposite free end of said flexible cord or chain has a connection eyelet removably connectable to the object to be anchored.
 17. A ground anchor according claim 15, wherein said upper wall of said ground anchor body has a substantially flat upper surface, wherein said upper wall is elongate having a length and a width, with said length being greater than said width, and wherein said upper wall has an opening formed therein permitting passage of said free end part of said anchor member therethrough.
 18. A method of installing a ground anchor on a playing field, comprising the steps of: embedding a ground anchor body within an uppermost subsurface layer of the playing field directly beneath an artificial surface layer of the playing field, said ground anchor having an extendable anchor member that is positioned below the artificial surface layer when not in use and that is extendable to a position above the artificial surface layer for being connected to an object to be anchored; and after said embedding step, fastening the artificial surface layer to an upper wall of the ground anchor body with mechanical fasteners or an adhesive.
 19. A method according to claim 18, wherein during said embedding step, a depth of penetration of the ground anchor body relative to the uppermost subsurface layer is no greater than 1 inch.
 20. A method according to claim 19, further comprising the steps of, before said embedding step, cutting a slit-shaped opening in the artificial surface layer and inserting the ground anchor body through the slit-shaped opening such that the extendable anchor member is positioned adjacent said slit-shaped opening for being extended through said slit-shaped opening, said ground anchor body being elongate having a length and a width, and the slit-shaped opening extending perpendicular to the length of the elongate ground anchor body and being of a length that is equal to about the width of the elongate ground anchor body. 